Stamp and label.



W. T. ERIGKSON. STAMP AND LABEL.

urucuxon IILED we. 11, 1910.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

q Vi/tmeoaeo WILLIAM rnonnn na'rcxson, or new YonK, N. Y.

STAMP AND LABEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Application filed August 17, 1910. Serial NmJFL-GGO.

Toall whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Tnonnn Emoxson, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have in- .vented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamps and Labels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stamps, labels and the like, with particular reference to that class of such articles which are applied to receiving surf-aces by adhesion; my object being to' produce a stamp or label which shall be proof against second using.

Governments the world over experience great losses in revenue owing to the fact that stamps, especially those of high denomination are used by dishonest persons several times over, it being an easy matter to remove the ordinary revenue (or postage) stamp from the package or document to which it has been appliedby steaming or soaking, and then by chemical washings or other means removing all traces of cancellation that may appear on the recovered stamp. Similarly, private business concerns and individuals are defrauded public deceived by the same practices on labels and other identifying marks.

My invention aims to produce an adhesive stamp or label having characteristics which will effectually prevent its removal in complete or usable condition from any surface to which it has once been applied.

The invention consists of a sheet of transparent material to which suitable pigments,

which constitute the design or other matter' of the stamp or label,,are applied partly in permanent relation with said transparent sheet and partly in removable or transferable relation therewith, and are arranged thereon in separate and distinct films, but in such manner that they mutuallyecontribute to produce a complete, unitary and intelligible whole visible in entirety from one surface of said sheet; the said transparent sheet being adapted to be adhesively applied to a receiving surface and thereafter removed therefrom if desired, whereby the pigments permanently affixed to the sheet will be withdrawn leaving an incomplete design in pigment only on said receiving surface. Obviously the remaining plgment can not be removed without destruction.

and the In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is an elevation showing my improved stamp or label applied to a receiving surface; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the transparent sheet partly removed; Fig. 3 is a view showing'the design on the receiving surface after the sheet has been removed; Fig. 4 is a view of the removed sheet; Figs. 5 and 6 are exaggerated sectional views .of the stamp or label; and Fig. 7 is a similar view showing an alternative form.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, in which similar characters denote similar jparts throughout the several figures, 1 represents a body of transparent paper, archment or other suitable thin and pre erably flexible material, hereinafter referred to as the sheet. i

2 represents a film or coating of printersink, paint, or other pigment applied directly upon the sheet 1, either on the under surface thereof as best indicated in Figs. 5 and 6,

or on the upper surface as shown. in Fig. 7.

This film or coating constitutes an indispensable and component part of the design of the stamp or label.

3''denotesa transparent'a'nd soluble sizing washed over the back or under surface of sheet 1 and covering the pigment 2' (Figs. 5 and 6). Laid over this transparent sizing is a film or coating 4: of printers-ink, paint or other pigment which constitues the complementary portion of the design represented in part by the film 2. The film 4, preferably does not extend across the area occupied by the film 2, but is carefully matched to and arranged around said area so that the two films present an unbroken appearance as seen through the sheet from its u per or front surface.

5 enotes a coating of adhesive substance laid over pigment 4: and preferably over the entire back or under surface of sheet 1 maybe enhanced by arranging the pigments blank area may be caused to adhere to a 2 in the form of any mark of cancellation, in the drawings.

My invention does not contemplate means for preventing the removal of the sheet 1 from its receiving surface, inasmuch as such removal accomplishes the primary object of the invention, which is to prevent second use of the stamp. If desired, however, such removal may-be rendered diflicult by the use of tenacious glues or slowly soluble substances on the back of the sheet. But it is commonly accepted such as the cross shown preferred that the sheet be easy of removal as in some systems of business it may be found of advantage to preserve the transparent sheets as a record of stamps used.

' The particular nature of and manner of applying thepigments or the soluble or the adhesive substances herein referred to forms no part. of the present invention, and is therefore not described. Any of the several methods and materials-used in the manufacture of the well known decalcomania or transferable picture may be employed in carrying out my invention.

Having thus described by invention what I claim is: r

1. A stampor'label of the character described comprising a transparent sheet, a film of pigment permanently applied thereto in definite arrangement and outline and forming a component part of a predetermined design, an insulating coating of soluble material applied to one side of vsaid sheet, a second film" oi. pigment applied to said soluble material and matched to and around the area occupied by said permanent film, the two films mutually contributing to form a complete design, and a coatin of adhesive material laid. over said second film, whereby a design having a clearly defined side of said sheet, a second film of p1 said permanent film, the two films receiving surface.

2. A stamp or label of the character described comprising a transparent sheet, a film of pigment permanently applied to one surface thereof in definite arrangement and outline and forming a component part of a predetermined design, an insulating coating of soluble material applied to the opposite applied to said matched to and around the area occupied by mutually contributin to form a com lete design, and a coating 0 adhesive materlal laid over said second film, whereby a design havin a clearly defined blank area may be caused to adhere to a receiving surface.

3. A stamp or label of the character de-. scribed comprising a transparent sheet, a primary film of pigment permanently applied thereto in definite arrangement and outline and forming a component part of a predetermined deslgn, a secondary removable film laid over the primary film and adapted to be transferred to a receiving surface, an insulating coating of soluble material interposed between-said films, the two films mutually contributing to form a complete design, and a coating of adhesive material laid over said secon film, whereby :a design having a clearly defined blankarea may be caused to adhere to a receiving sur face. 4

' Signed at New York N. Y. in the county of New York and State of New York this 13th day of August A. D. 1910.

WILLIAM THORNE ERICKSON.

Witnesses:

L. E. Monmson, J. FonRoH.

gment. soluble maternal and 

